title: [A study of the demand for care at a structured neurological clinic corresponding to the northern region of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A prospective study was done over 8 months in a structured neurology clinic in the north of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
  
  
  METHODS
  A computerized data collection file was used in this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1,300 patients studied at their first visit, only 763 presented with any clinical feature which could be considered neurological. Although 625 patients were sent as emergencies, only 3 of these showed neurological pathology to justify being considered emergency cases. The commonest pathological conditions seen were headaches, facial pains, cerebral vascular pathology and convulsive crises. In our survey, as compared to other studies, a higher number of patients were sent to our clinic, and many more were sent as emergency cases. However, the most commonly seen pathology was similar to that of other surveys.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We consider it necessary to rationalize the access of patients to secondary care so that it may be more efficient, with the consequent reduction in costs.
authors.affiliation: Sección de Neurología, Hospital Nuestra Señora del Pino, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España. pvc@ext.step.es
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Villagra
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cubero
mesh_terms: D001330:Electronic Data Processing; D019981:Health Care Sector; D006296:Health Services / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D006298:Health Services Administration; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009462:Neurology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013030:Spain
vernacular_title: Estudio de la demanda asistencial en una consulta jerarquizada de Neurología correspondiente al área Norte de las Palmas de Gran Canaria.